Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Love affair with PARIS continues...

Last afternoon, as I greedily grabbed a bit of hazy sunlight and found a table at a Brasserie in the bustling Rue de Commerce, I felt how lucky we are in India - we take our glorious sunlight entirely for granted! Here in Paris, one craves for a bit of warmth - literally and metaphorically!It gets dark by 4p.m. and people's unsmiling faces in overcrowded metros only add to the depression. I have been getting by with my toota phoota french, and find people are generally helpful. The cheerful touches come from musicians who get onto the rain in Santa gear and play classical pieces. Sometimes, I notice the drivers in the cabin wearing Santa caps, and wonder about their lives. The metros are spilling over with tourists, foreigners from distant lands, braving the cold and making the most of this magical destination. The essential French person is hard to find. Right across the street from the magnificently lit Galleries Lafayette, an edgy Japanese clothing store has opened to much applause. UNI QLO is a brash concept - very cheeky and fresh. There are lines of shoppers waiting to get inside. In comparison, the legendary GL looks like a slightly dowdy dowager.
Ditto for a lot of traditional French bistros that have been forced to change their predictable cuisine in keeping with new foodie trends. Last night we went to Le Loup Blanc (The White Fox) to find a swift menu change. I had mustard ice cream as a part of my salad ( imaginative and delicious), and noticed there are many more vegetarian options featured on menus these days. That is great news and means veg guys can order more than just steamed haricort vert ( beans). Tonight we are going to the Grand Palais and then to my daughter's favourite hang out. The night before , we went back to one of my old favourites - La Coupole at Montparnasse. It is like a gigantic French Udipi joint - a huge food hall serving the most wonderful, sensibly priced cuisine. But one of the signature dishes here since 1927 has been the Indian lamb curry!! It was served to us by a Tamilian waiter dressed like a maharajah, who spoke perfect French and gave us an extra dollop of curry!!
Shashi Tharoor, the tweet junkie, is at it again! Good for him. Perhaps Ameesha Patel is helping him??

19 comments:

pissed with politics!! said...

http://dareindianpolitics.blogspot.com/ check it out for political comments and more meaningful stuff that what shobha writes!!!

pissed with politics!! said...

http://dareindianpolitics.blogspot.com/ check it out for political comments and more meaningful stuff than what shobha writes!!

Crazy Blogger said...

So somebody is having gala time??

Anonymous said...

Are you single?

anupamaa said...

It is people ike Shashi Tharoor that add spice to Indian Politics. May his tribe increase.

Have a great time in Paris...

Unknown said...

Wish you all a very Happy n Prosperous New Year....may 2010 bring lots of happiness for one n all!!!!

Regards
New Year Parties in Mumbai
New Year Parties in Bangalore
New Year Parties in New Delhi

चंद्रमौलेश्वर प्रसाद said...

"we take our glorious sunlight entirely for granted! "

Time to harness solar energy :)

supriya said...

i already feel that im in paris...!!

Anonymous said...

Indian Lamb Curry....I love this dish....

Scheherazade said...

Good stuff..But Paris is soo overrated.

Shwetha said...

Since you enjoy food so much, may I request you to suggest a simple Indian restaurant at bandra (Simple & Bandra..almost an oxymoron huh!) to grab some breakfast.

I live in California and am visiting my aunt and uncle (south Indians) for breakfast at Bandra (Bandra, because there is a family gettogether to attend soon after) I googled for a simple Southie vegetarian place for breakfast place, but could find only snazzy joints which will make them very uncomfy :(

As a true blood mumbaiker and a sincere foodie amongst your multi talented self, could you please post a few restaurant suggestions in this blog commnet trail...please please please! I dont know of anyone else to ask..
-Shwetha

BB said...

One can still live in Paris with toota phoonta French. I too like Paris because it has New York like flavor. I spent 9 months in Southern France during summer. Life in remote French areas is much more difficult. Shops close at 5pm. People do not speak English.

What is wrong in using Tweeter by a politician? At least someone has guts to interact with public.

Unknown said...

During our sojourn in France cold &
the gloom were an issue & not knowing any French, another.We found the Indian cuisine there very
anglecized.Annapurna on rue de berry serves reasonably good south Indian fare.Check it out.

rupam sarma said...

Hello Mam,
Wishing you and your family a very happy & marvelous New Year 2010
Please visit http://rupamsarma.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-new-year-2010.html

Regards
Rupam from Assam

Manjiri Agnihotri said...

?????????????

Vaudeville of Exhilaration said...

If I hadnt followed ur blog, I would never have known many facets of urs.I realy like wat u write.
Wishing u a v happy new year..

By de way, everything looks gud frm outside but the inside story is not always very bright and ebullient. Yes, m talkin about the gud lot of Indians working there, many graduates move to Paris with great hopes bt end up selling posters near the Eiffel Tower.Sorry for the negative perspective but dats true..

Unknown said...

Cool post...
@...of exhilaration is right!!!

Plz teach the French to smile coz SMILE IS ONE CURVE THAT SETS EVERYTHING STRAIGHT!!!!!

Regards
entertainment events in Mumbai
entertainment events in Bangalore
entertainment events in New York

saravanan said...

hey, you can recharge your pre/post paid mobile free of cost everyday. visit www.pricesbolo.com

uknowme said...

By de way, everything looks gud frm outside but the inside story is not always very bright and ebullient. Yes, m talkin about the gud lot of Indians working there, many graduates move to Paris with great hopes bt end up selling posters near the Eiffel Tower.Sorry for the negative perspective but dats true..
Textildruck

central heating bristol